M is for Motivation and Mary Celeste

Hello there! How's everyone doing with the challenge?

Before I get to the Mary Celeste, my second boat mystery of the challenge, I wanted to talk about motivation. We're all motivated by different things, be they financial gain, personal gain, fame, artistic urges, or whatever else. I see people ask what motivates others, and I often have trouble answering that question about my writing. I'm not doing it to make a fortune, because the reality of that is dismal. Unless you're Stephen King, making a ton of money doesn't seem like something that can happen. So I'm not motivated by money. If I were, I'd give up my fiction writing and focus on non-fiction only. At least I've made money writing articles. I can say with confidence that I've not made any money with my fiction or with my photography.

Fame? What does that mean? As a writer, chances are you won't be recognized on the streets. Sure, I'd recognize Stephen King if I saw him, but anyone else? Nope. (Okay, other than those I've actually met, but that doesn't count). You won't be on talk shows unless you're Anne Rice, so that element of fame sure won't get to you. Will the paparazzi follow you? Happily, probably not. I'd rather not ever reach paparazzi-level fame. Not that it's a realistic possibility, but still.

Recognition. Is this different from fame? What does it mean? Awards? I wouldn't mind winning some writing awards. Who am I kidding? I'd love to! However, I don't think I write the type of thing that will garner awards. Still, I'll call this one a yes.

Mostly, I want to share my stories. I want others to read them, to understand them, to enjoy them. I want to get them out of my head and onto paper. That's my motivation for writing. Making money at it some day would be something I certainly wouldn't turn down, but realistically it may not happen.

What's your motivation?

is for Mary Celeste.


On November 7, 1872, the Mary Celeste set sail from New York City with a crew of eight, plus Captain Briggs, his wife and infant daughter. Her cargo was 1,701 barrels of American industrial alcohol worth approximately $35,000, headed toward Genoa to help in wine making.

On December 5, 1872, she was spotted by a British ship, the Dei Gratia, out of control in the Atlantic Ocean. Captain Morehouse, of the Dei Gratia, knew Captain Briggs, of the Mary Celeste. They'd met for dinner before Briggs set sail, Morehouse to follow eight days later, and Morehouse felt confident Briggs was a good captain, so it stood to reason there was something wrong. He attempted to hail the ship, watching for signs of trouble or a distress call. When there was no response, he sent a crew over on a small boat.

Painting of the Mary Celeste
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

What they found was an intact ship, cargo still on board (though nine barrels were empty), but not one person, alive or dead. The ship had been deserted, most items left behind. All clothing, goods, pipes, and oil skin boots remained, though they were unable to find a chronometer, sextant, and navigation book. There were also no lifeboats, and it appeared there should have been at least one. The hold was full of food, the ship in good shape and running well. The only trouble was one pump that had been disabled, causing there to be some water between decks. However, this did not disable the boat. In fact, she was sailed to Gibraltar by one of Morehouse's crew after the discovery.

The ship's slate showed they had last documented a stop on November 25 on St. Mary Island.

Tales of the Mary Celeste have long said she was in perfect shape, not a thing out of place, food half eaten, and that there was a bloody sword. Sadly, none of this was true. Though it appeared the crew had left in a great hurry, there were no signs of violence, and no partially eaten meals set out. Everything on the ship was wet except for those items kept safely in trunks. Ropes were reported hanging off the side.

The crew were never discovered, and theories abounded. Piracy was a possibility, but with nothing of value missing, and no signs of violence, it made no sense. It was suggested that when the pump stopped working, they thought it was sinking and abandoned ship, but Captain Briggs had commanded several ships, and was by no means new at it. He wouldn't have abandoned the ship unless there was a real need to.

Perhaps there was a mutiny, but then not everyone would have abandoned ship, and there would have been

Benjamin Briggs, Captain of the Mary Celeste;
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

signs, such as blood, had anyone been injured. Sea monsters, perhaps, or the ever-present aliens? Maybe the missing alcohol had spilled in the hold, causing fumes that forced ship abandonment. There was no sign of this when the ship was boarded later, but the amount of water on the ship could have taken care of the problem. No trace of the missing alcohol was found, no scent remained, and it's unknown where the alcohol went. Other suggestions included a sea quake or waterspout. It's thought that they had abandoned the ship for whatever reason, but kept a rope tied between the larger ship and the smaller. The rope was severed, setting them adrift and at the mercy of stormy seas (it was confirmed by Morehouse that there had been storms for days).

In addition to the other possible causes of the disappearance, it was posited that Captain Morehouse either worked with Briggs to commit insurance fraud (the ship, plus its goods, were insured at $46,000) or that he took out the crew to gain the ship (Morehouse got the ship as a salvage).

A few interesting extras:

The Mary Celeste was considered cursed by some well before Briggs, his family and crew disappeared into the waves. Three captains died while commanding her, there was a fire, and a couple collisions with other ships.

Captain Briggs had a second child, a seven-year old son, who had remained behind with his grandmother to continue attending school.

The Mary Celeste went back into service, and was sold many times until a new captain intentionally wrecked her in Haiti for the insurance money. He didn't get away with it, but she was a splintered wreck, never to sail again.

One of the salvagers from Morehouse's crew reported that there was blood on the deck, a gash in the railing, and blood on a sword. An investigator said the supposed blood was actually rust, and the gash could be due to just about anything, and wasn't of concern.

I found one report saying five bodies turned up on an island later on, one wrapped in an American flag. This was the only place it was mentioned, though, and no further details were included.

There have been other abandoned ships found, including The Latin, The Hermania, and The Marathon.

So why did the crew of the Mary Celeste disappear? What scared them off? Or were they forced off? What happened to the missing nine barrels of alcohol?

May you find your Muse.


*Letter M courtesy of Marlene, clker.com